the trap is set

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan listened to the monster that claimed to be Caspian's father. The story seemed reasonable, but far-fetched. Lennia, who knew far more magic than she did, said the island can do strange things to people. Maybe becomming this monster was his curse given to him by the island. Maybe he was trapped here all the years Caspian was growing up alone. But how did they know he was telling the truth?

"If you are Caspian's father then why did you take Lucy, why did you help Lamont to hurt Caspian through me?"

[King Caspian X]

"He's not my father." Caspian said. "My father's bones lay buried deep within the soil of Telmar. I walked by the casket that day at the funeral. I was five years old, saluting the body of my father." Tears ran down his face at the memory, and hatred burned in his eyes at the fake that stood before him. "I don't need you anymore." he repeated.

[Cotnar]

"No," He said in a voice that seemed to beg, "That was not me. Who it was I don't know. I don't mind if you don't need me, I have seen that you have grown to be strong and I am proud. The kingdom needs a leader stronger than me, and you are that leader. As for Lucy, I took her from you to protect her from Lamont, just as it seems I should've done with her. As for hurting you, I did not want things to be as they were. Lamont came, even if I didn't want him to. I gave him the illusion of being safe, I promised him power. Now I am learning his ways and soon I can find his weakness. But Lucy is safe, in Narnia and free. She's probably waiting for you at your Cair Paraval, or wherever it is you live now. But Lamont is here, waiting for me to take him home, without me he is stranded. I plan to leave him here until you find Lucy, if you trust me."

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

What could she say? This man was offering Lucy of all people. She was still mostly confused on his plans and morals, but if he could help her . . . No, this monster had helped Lamont, no matter what his motives were.

"Caspian . . . I follow you," She said relunctantly after a while, "If you want his help then I will accept it. Otherwise he is an enemy and must be destoried."

[High King Peter]

Peter clinged to Susan, not wanting to let her go. At last he sighed, giving her to Caspian. He ignored her statement about their mother's promise as he wrapped his arms around his legs. Dear god, he thought. Help us get through this and I will never doubt you again. Peter didn't believe in a god. He thought that miracles and other things happened on their owns. But he did believe in fate and thought he was crossing the line. The king stiffened as he sensed Cotnar behind. Dear god, he thought, turning around and yanking his sword. But he didn't get enough time as the tiger sprang at him. Peter yelped as they went tumbling to the ground. He was frozen underneath the tiger, unable to move for fear of getting killed, which was going to happen anyways he figured.

He closed his eyes. Let it be over, he thought. Get it done quick and easy. Let it be painful. He felt all of his weight releasing and he stared at Caspian. They use to get along, but that was mainly on Peter's fault. He didn't like the idea of his sister going out with him, a telmarine. But after seeing what happened here.....Peter closed his eyes, trying to block out everything as the tiger transformed into Caspian's father. He was thinking of their father. Was the war over? he asked himself, feeling tears sliding down his face. Is he alive? Did he make it through. He barely paid attention to the conversation.

[King Caspian X]

Just play along. Caspian told himself. "How can I trust you after all these years, Father? You, with the ability now to fly, never returned once to see me. If Lucy is safe and sound in Narnia at Cair Paravell, without any of Lamont's people, and we all make it back to Narnia safely, then I will trust you again." The King smiled, still as tears dripped down his face. "You must stay here with Lamont. Stall him, keep him on the island. When Lucy is safe, as well as the rest of us, in Narnia, then I will send a Gryphon with a message for you to return. And then you will have earned my trust." Caspian said wisely. "We can be a family again." He scooped Susan into his arms again and began to walk towards the ship. "You must allow us a safe passage to our vessel." In other words: Step aside and let us through. Just more polite.

[Cotnar]

"I will do so," He said, "Lamont is an easy boy to fool if you know his way. I will tell you this, though you should already know part of it. Peter, the test I gave you to 'test your loyalty' is not one I give to every one of my followers. The only one of them who recieved one was Lamont. The task I gave is one I truly regret. I wanted to see just how far he would go to see his place at the throne. Sadly he completed the task of killing his own mother. I am sorry I told him to do this, but I expected him to turn it down. But it proves that he will stop at no diabolical thing to have power. I am more than sure there will be a time where he will turn against me and I will leave you again to join your aunt. But for now I can manage to feed you with information on the boy. Now go home to Lucy."

[High King Peter]

Peter opened his eyes, not bothering to wipe the tears. He looked at Caspian and gave him a half smile, seeing that he was crying as well. He raised a sad and tear streaked face to the tiger. His eys narrowed and sparkled with fresh tears. "I hoped you wouldn't given me that," he told it softly. "You have never understood true family loyaltly." he was still in shock when he heard that Lamont had killed his mother. "His own mother?" he asked in a horror-struck voice. "His.....own...?" he let his voice trailed off, looking at Caspian and Susan. "No. We are going everywhere together. We are not going to separate,"

[King Caspian X]

Caspian looked down at Peter, confusion on his face. "'We' who? Do you mean 'we' as in you, me, Susan, and Len? Or as in you, me, Susan, Len and my father?" asked the King. Why wouldn't they want to separate from the shape-shifter? The plan was perfect. If Lucy was there, then they would know that he was speaking the truth, and send word by a Gryphon. If she wasn't there, then they would know he was lying. What was the point of bringing an extra beast onboard the ship that just might be enemy? A beast that, in fact, could destroy them all? God, Caspian hoped that Peter meant the first option that he had listed. Of course, Caspian didn't believe that the shape-shifter was his father. He didn't believe a word of his lies. Everything the King had said about being a family again and trusting the tiger had been an act.

The night was only growing darker and darker around the isle, and a cold air settled down on the land. Caspian began to walk toward where the boat was landed, not stopping this time. "Come on Peter." he said. "We have to get back to the ship now. Father is going to keep Lamont here until we send word that we've found Lucy." Caspian told him. Aslan, he hoped that Peter hadn't believed what Cotnar had said. "Then he will join us again." He looked down at Susan in his arms and hugged close to him as he passed Cotnar, as if he would tear her from his arms. But even when the fake image of his father did nothing, Caspian didn't let his guard down. Never would he let his guard down when around the beast.

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

Susan thought she would cry again, but did not. The boy was not only cruel, he was a savage as well. To be able to kill his own family for power. Edmund had done something like that, trying to turn them in for the white witch, but he had found his error and stopped before any true harm came to them. She would have to ask Edmund about what it was like later.

Caspian had scooped her in his arms in an attempt to preserve her strength. She wouldn't have asked him to, even if she did enjoy the feeling. She let herself lean into his armor, feeling the cold chainmail and breastplate through his cloak. "Wait," She remembered, "my arrows," At first she was unsure of how she had forgotten, but seeing at how useless they were when Lamont she almost considered leaving them.

"I don't honestly care if he stays or comes," she told Caspian, "the choice is yours as far as I'm concerned. But for Lucy's sake we go straight," She stopped to let out a long yawn, unaware of how tired she was until now, "to Cair Paraval." She crossed her arms over her chest, for warmth and to try to keep Caspian from worring about her flailing limbs, and moments later she was asleep reliving her nightmare."

[King Caspian X]

Caspian bent to get the arrows and the bow, and then slung them over his shoulder. When he looked back down at Susan, she was sleeping. The man smiled sadly, pitying the frightened look on her face. "No bad dreams." he said, and brushed her cheek softly with his hand to attempt to wake her. His eyes looked down on her lovingly, but also in worry. Caspian's tears had stopped for the time being, but there was no doubt he was still upset. The King was very protective over her, and it was obvious that Lamont had hurt her somehow. A rage burned in his heart, but his sleepy mind couldn't think of anger right now. All that was important to him was getting everyone safely back to Narnia.

[Lamont]

The boy waited, and waited, and waited. A few times he thought he heard the lion or some other beast he may have become, but he was wrong and waited Some more. "How much longer dose he intend to have us sit here?" He asked the servant not actually expecting an answer. The unpredictable monster was probably causing some unheard havoc on the Narnians and leaving what will be their king out of the fun. It was true that he had played his part and had his fun. Susan would never forget this, and neither would the others. He had made his mark without the help of magic. And now it was time to leave. But he was not a patient one.

"Syria, Go and find our master, see what's taking him so long." he commanded before silently adding, it seems like the old master is losing his touch, perhaps it is time to replace him

[Syria De'more]

Syria sighed as she turned and walked off. What was Lamont thinking? she asked herself, making her way through the woods, shivering as she heard the screams. Stop that, she silently commanded, shaking her head to get rid of her parents' yelling. I wasn't with them when they died on the battlefront. Leave me alone, stop it. She stumbled into the small group, eyeing Susan curiously before turning her gaze to Cotnar. "He's wandering whats taking you so long," she whispered in her English accent, not looking at him, but titling her head to one side, looking at Susan.

[High King Peter]

Peter looked at Caspian. "You, me, Sus, and Len. Your father can rot here for all I care," he wipped his tears with the back of his hand with a sigh. He stood, still looking at Caspian. "I hope our differences have settled," he began, reaching out and gently stroked Susan's hair. "We haven't excatly been the best of friends, but I'm willing to make the change if you are," he reached out and hugged Caspian quickly before letting go. "If it wasn't for you I would have been dead. I owe you for this,"

[Queen Susan the Gentle]

"This has nothing to do with Lucy, it's about you." his words echoed in her mind, "After this dark night you will no longer belong to my cousin." She felt no pain only because there was no pain in dreams. She could hear a voice screaming, her own, only to be answere by a bird of prey. Again she knew the bird did not exist, but it had attacked her before. She knew what was happening, yet was powerless. No one would come and save her, no one would hear her begging. All that was left was to fall uncontious. Caspian . . .

She woke uo still in Caspian's arms. If it wern't for the nightmare she would have enjoyed her rest. Peter was touching her hair, which made her feel strange, but she could put those thoughts aside. She was with her family now and she was safe.

"So what are we doing?"